Mary Johnson Blackburn (1871-1957) was born to William and Permelia Johnson in 1871 in Bronwood, Georgia. The Johnson family moved to Atlanta and Mary attended Girls High School. In November 1895, Mary Johnson married Robert B. Blackburn. Robert Blackburn worked as an attorney and served in the Georgia Legislature for seventeen years. In 1899, Mary owned many rental properties in Atlanta. In the early 1900s, Mary wrote columns for the Atlanta Constitution. In addition, she enjoyed painting and poetry. In 1924, she wrote the book, Folk Lore from Mammy Days, an anthology of African American poetry and songs. She was a member of many civic clubs including: Daughters of the American Revolution; the United Daughters of the Confederacy; the Uncle Remus Memorial Association; the Atlanta Pioneer Women Society and the Atlanta Writer’s Club. Mary Johnson Blackburn died on February 28, 1957 and was buried in Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery.